The Freshman Nine.

The article which we published recently concerning the freshman nine seems already to have had the desired effect of awakening the energies of the then nearly dormant nine, and of bringing before it a correct idea of what the college has a right to expect that it will accomplish this spring. The number of candidates almost immediately doubled and all set to work with an energy and vim which was truly admirable, but only suggestive of the great difficulties which will have to be overcome if a respectable nine is to be placed in the field this year. The system of training which is at present being carried out is only initiative of the work which is to be commenced immediately after the mid-years. At present the men are put through a series of hand dumb-bell exercises and are made to run at a fast pace short distances on the running track in the gymnasium. The most important part of their work is done in the cage. Here much attention is paid to sliding bases and batting, particularly to instill confidence into the men while at the bat. The candidates are divided into squads of four men, each of which has regular hours appointed for practicing hand ball in the cage. Two and perhaps three batteries will soon be in daily practice. After the mid-years a radical change will be made in the manner of training; all the running will be out-of-doors, and an entirely new, and we consider excellent, departure will be made. All who present themselves as candidates for the nine will be obliged to attend morning prayers at chapel.

It is the intention of the management to do hard work the remainder of the training season, and whoever intends at any time to present himself as a candidates must do so immediately and be ready to conform to anything which may be required of him. Our attention thus far has been directed toward the nine alone, but we do not forget that every class is, in part, responsible for its athletic teams, and a repetition of the disgraceful condition of its finances, in which the freshman foot-ball team found itself, would hardly be endured by the rest of the college.